Coin Curricula

Half Dollar

There are so many fun ways to introduce your students to American coins!
Below you will find a collection of educational resources to help get your students started.
To add additional lesson ideas to this site, please sign up to participate in the
Teachers' Network.
And don't forget to visit the
Circulating Coins section to find out more about all of the current circulating coins from the United States Mint!

Download, print, and color this coin!

Click on each coin image to download an Acrobat® file containing the coin outline to color.

Coin Information

Obverse Design

John F. Kennedy

Obverse Designer

Gilroy Roberts

Reverse Design

Presidential Coat of Arms

Reverse Designer

Frank Gasparro

Date of First Issue

1964

Weight

11.340 g

Diameter

1.205 in. or 30.61 mm

Thickness

2.15 mm

Want to learn more?
Here's how!

Just For Fun!

Kids love coins!
Watch your students explore some of the fun activities below and watch them gain an appreciation for coins and coin collecting!

Teachers' Corner

This section is just for you!
Click on each of the sections below to find an inventory of educational resources from the United States Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change™ Web site related to the quarter.
These lesson plans activities will be a hit with your students and are ready to be used in your classroom today!

Description:
Here's a fun computer center activity for your classroom! Prepare clues about a particular coin. Then invite your students to visit the United States Mint H.I.P. Pocket Change™ Web site to research the answers to the quirky hints they are given!Subject Areas:
Technology

Description:
The interesting thing about coins is that there have been many changes in design over the years. Have your students work in pairs to trace the design history of a currently circulating coin and display their findings on a timeline.Subject Areas:
Social Studies

Description:
Students will research contributions to American culture and technological progress through Benjamin Franklin's quotes and inventions. They will also analyze research in order to design a coin honoring Ben Franklin's contributions.

Description:
Students will research contributions to American culture and technological progress through Benjamin Franklin's quotes and inventions. They will also analyze research in order to design a coin honoring Ben Franklin's contributions.

Description:
Students will examine and discuss the designs on the circulating coins produced by the United States Mint. They will read to learn about the woman and child featured on the Golden Dollar. They will then compare and contrast this coin to the other circulating U.S. coins.

Description:
Students will research contributions to American culture and technological progress through Benjamin Franklin's quotes and inventions. They will also analyze research in order to design a coin honoring Ben Franklin's contributions.